Snapper issue takes ‘disturbing’ twist

Saturday

May 25, 2013 at 7:38 PM

Even though the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has announced an increase for Louisiana’s federal recreational red snapper season, a local senator said some anglers had to sacrifice too much.

Even though the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has announced an increase for Louisiana’s federal recreational red snapper season, a local senator said some anglers had to sacrifice too much. When NOAA announced Louisiana was only getting nine days — the revised federal season will open June 1 and close June 24 — the state went noncompliant and created its own state season, which now mirrors the new federal dates. Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, said he found it “disturbing” that federal regulators refused to testify to the Legislature on the issue and the U.S. Coast Guard began issuing tickets to Louisiana anglers who were following the guidelines of the state season before it was revised. Bo Boehringer, press secretary for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said the department’s enforcement division “has received calls from fishermen” about the Coast Guard citations.Still, Louisiana’s efforts to manage its own red snapper fishery is not over. “These actions only strengthen our case for regional management,” said Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham. An update is expected at the June 6 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.

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